Title: Complicated
Author: AAV
Feedback: Please! Alexis2100@hotmail.com
Summary: Romance, especially when you work at the White House, is never easy.
Rating: PG, for slight sexual innuendo and mild language
Disclaimer: I don't own any of it… The West Wing, Aaron Sorkin, the songs featured in the story, not any of it. This is just my humble attempt to create a story I would have liked to seen played out on screen. No infringement was intended.
Chapter 10: A Miserable Week
Monday came too quickly for Ainsley, and the morning passed even faster. She and Sam had gone back to the hospital to spend some time with her father. She was pleased to see Sam and the great Thomas Hayes getting along so well. They seem to have developed some sort of bond that crossed political boundaries. Ainsley wondered furiously what had been said during the private conversation the two men had had the day before.
But now it was nearing four and she knew that Sam had to get on the road to head back to the city. They were standing in the kitchen of the estate, Mrs. Baker having supplied Sam with enough snacks and drinks to last him a week, let alone the six hour drive back to the city.
Mrs. Baker said goodbye to Sam and rounded up Max and Emma and took them outside so she could give Sam and Ainsley some private time to say goodbye. Sam took Ainsley's hand in his as they headed to the front door. His heart hurt, like something was physically wrong with it. He never knew he could feel so much for one person. And he knew that he'd be seeing her again in five short days, but it didn't seem to matter. He really didn't want to say goodbye.
Ainsley offered Sam a smile, which she hoped looked happier than she felt. "I guess you should get on the road. You're going to hit traffic as it is and you don't want to get in too late since you have to be up for work in the morning." She felt like she was rambling.
It was Sam's turn to smile. He reached out and tucked a stray piece of hair behind Ainsley's ear. "You know that I'd stay if I could."
"Sam, you've done more for me than I ever could have imagined. The President may be able to live without me for a while, but I don't think he can do without his Deputy Communication Director for very long. Who knows what kind of trouble Toby's getting into without you there? Besides, the President was already kind enough to let you take today off."
"I know," Sam sighed, "I still wish I could stay." He reached out and stroked her hair again, the tension thick in the air. Finally, unable to stand it anymore, Ainsley closed the space between them and wrapped her arms around him. Sam hugged her back, trying to memorize every feeling, every tiny piece of this moment. He pulled back slightly and kissed her, catching her off guard. It didn't take long, however, before Ainsley was kissing him back with a passion she didn't know she had in her. A few moments later, Sam reluctantly broke off the kiss, knowing he wouldn't be able to stop if he kissed her any longer.
He held her to him for a minute longer. "I'll call you tonight when I get in."
"Okay," Ainsley replied softly, sadness in her voice.
"Let me know if anything changes with you father. I'll be back this weekend assuming no major crises emerge at work."
"Sam, you don't have to do that… I'll be fine," Ainsley said, somewhat unconvincingly.
"I know I don't have to, Ains, I want to." He picked up his bag and opened the front door. Ainsley followed him out to his car and watched as he opened it and threw his bag into the back and set the goodies Mrs. Baker had given him on the front seat. She walked with him around to the driver's side and was about to kiss him again when Emma came running over, yelling, "Sam! Sam!"
"What's wrong?" he asked with concern as he picked her up.
"Mrs. Baker said you're leaving," she pouted. He laughed. "Just for a little while. I'll be back on Saturday. Hey, while I'm gone I need you to do me a favor, okay?" Emma nodded. "I need you to take care of your Aunt Wee for me; play with her and keep her happy. Can you do that for me?" Emma nodded again and then hugged Sam. She then reached out for her aunt and snuggled against her.
Sam looked at Ainsley, trying to photograph this moment, picturing Ainsley holding their child instead of her niece. He cleared his throat. "Well, I guess I should go." He opened his door. "Until Saturday," he said. Ainsley nodded in return. He leaned over and kissed Ainsley again, a quick kiss on the lips that made Emma exclaim "Ew!" Both Sam and Ainsley laughed, then got silent as Sam got into his car and drove away.
~*~*~*~
Sam watched them get smaller and smaller through his rear-view mirror until he could no longer see them as he continued down the drive. He reached for his CD case and popped in one of his favorite CDs, skipping ahead a few tracks to the song he always listened too when he was in one of his rare dark moods. He blared Dave Matthew's Band's song "Gray Street", singing along, fighting every nerve in his body, which was encouraging him to turn around and go back to the woman he loved.
Ainsley was dealing with Sam's departure in her own way. She made ice cream sundaes for Max, Emma, and herself, finishing what was left of Emma's after she'd eaten her own. Then she sent the kids off to play while she went up to her bedroom and listened to some music of her own. She put an Eric Clapton CD into her stereo and flopped onto the bed as "Blue Eyes Blue" filled the room. She rolled over onto her side and imagined Sam's arms around her, wishing Saturday would come as quickly as possible.
~*~*~*~
Sam spent his week trying to keep himself as busy as possible, which, unfortunately, was rather difficult as the President was in Camp David and it was a slow political week. There hadn't been much for him to do, except get on the nerves of the West Wing staffers as he meandered around trying to find something to occupy his time until he could go home and call Ainsley.
By three in the afternoon on Friday, Sam was wandering aimlessly around the halls of The West Wing. The fifth time he saw Sam pass by his office, Josh hollered to him. "Sam! Get in here!"
Sam spun around and entered Josh's office. "What wrong?"
"What's wrong? What's wrong? You're what's wrong."
"What's going on?" Donna asked as she entered the office, taking a seat next to Josh.
"My darling Donnatella," Josh began, "I was just about to tell dear Samuel to get the hell out of here. I'm tired of seeing him mope around."
"I…" Sam started, but Josh cut him off.
"Sam, you have been useless all week. Just leave. Leave. No discussion. We'll see you on Monday."
Sam was going to protest, but then realized what he was doing and was out of the office before Josh and Donna could offer a proper goodbye. They heard Sam yell a "See you Monday," as he shut the door to his office and took off.
Donna smiled. "Our Sam is in love…"
Josh turned to look at her. "So am I." Donna beamed and kissed him passionately.
"Oh for heaven's sake," CJ said as she passed the office. "Can't you at least shut the door if you're going to do that?"
"You're just jealous, CJ," Josh said. "I know you wanted me, but now you've missed your chance." Josh ducked just in time as CJ hurled something at his head. Donna picked it up off the floor. It was a rubber ball used for relieving stress. She smiled, "I don't think that's how they expected this to be used."
